Spinning apparatus



Sept 9, 1952 H. J. MGDERMOTT 2,609,567

SPINNING APPARATUS Filed Deo. l. 1949 ATTORNEY.

' temperature.

Patented Sept. 9, `1952 SPINNING APPARATUS Henry J. McDermott, Collingdale, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 1, 1949, Serial No. 130,462

This invention yrelates to equipment for producing lamentary material by discharging small streams of a spinning solution into a bath which converts' the streams into laments, and particularlr to equipment adapted to produce viscose laments. Y

It is'customary to discharge viscose solution or other filament-forming liquids from a spinneret into a liquid coagulant which is maintained at ay desired level above the spinneret and at adesired A single spinning machine may comprise fifty or more spinnerets which are sub- `merged within a single spinning bath container; 'f on other installations, a separate container may be provided for each spinneret.

In the spinning apparatus in use at'present, a

11 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) spinning solution is passed through members oi l an assembly (in the order named) comprising a lter. arounder, and a spinneret. The assemblyy is pivotably supportedby a portion of the lter case'so that the spinneret may be swung. into and out of the spin path. --An adjustable stop limits the swinging of the assembly and determines the depth of spinneret immersion. The degree of immersion may be changed also by loosening the coupling which joins the rounder to the ilter case and turning the rounder with respect to the coupling to raise or lower the spinneret with respect to the bath surface. The depth of immersion 'is measured by manually inserting a rule into the bath to each spinneret face. Coating ofthe stop surfaces withcorrosion products,spinning solution decomposition products,` or spinning bath materials may appreciablykaiect the 'depth oiv Spinneret immersion. The equipment is therefore vfrequently inspected and these surfaces cleaned, if necessary. When spinning yarns at less than 100 meters per minute, depth settings of the spinnerets may be permitted to vary withvin'a sixteenth of an inch over or under the speciiied setting. However, when spinning filaments at speeds greater than 150 meters per minute,

liquid of the spin bath collects and is supported upon the filamentary material leaving the spinneretV in substantial quantity. The amount of liquidcarried by the laments may be controlled lo byvarying the depth of spinneret immersion. The depth of the bath and also the temperaturethere- 'of have marked effect on the dyeing and physical properties of the yarn and it r,becomes increasing- Y -lyA important,- as the spinning speed is increased,

to maintain the depth Settings of the spinneret and the bath temperatures at substantially constant levels. Y

It is an important object of the invention to provide apparatus which effects `positive and accurate depth of spinneret immersion. *It is another object to provide spinning equipment which permits economical use of a liquid coagulant aplied to the material discharged 'from a spinneret. It is still another object to provide means' for raccurately controlling the temperature of a coagulant or other liquid used: iii-producing lila-Y ments'. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of the invention andv thedrawings relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partly'in section of spinning equipment according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of an assembly comprising a portion of the apparatus and Y.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

According to the invention, a spinneret is supported within a small cup-shaped or open-topped container to maintain accurate immersion of the spinneret. The face oi the spinneret is substantially horizontal ata depth below Ian overflow illustrated in Fig'. :1;

surface of the container corresponding to a desired immersion depth. The spinneret and container are preferably supported on a bracket which may be swung into and out of a vessel for receiving the liquid .which overflows from the immersion container;. The bracket is provided with a liquid-receiving recess and a duct. connected therewith having a discharge orii'lce positioned to discharge liquid into the container. Liquid is supplied to the recess ofthe bracket by a stationary orifice which is connected 'with a supply of liquid and positioned to discharge liquid into the recess when the bracket occupies its spinning position; when the bracket is swungrout of this :position the liquid is discharged into the vessel in which the bracket is suspended.

Fig. 1 illustrates a bracket 5 having an end portion't in pivotable relationship ,with a bifurcate clamping bracket 8. The bracket Ewith parts attached thereto is,v swingable into `and out of a vessellil on a pivotal axisexten'ding throughthe i bracket 8.'. Its positionwithin the vesselfs determined byengagement of `a stop surface Ill (Fig. 2) of the bracket 5 with vthe surfaceiS vroil-the bracket 8 (Figi). y

The bracket 8 is vconnected with a supply Source of filament-forming material and is provided, with l a fitting I2 having a passageway l5 for introducing the material into a .p assageway'oi the bracket. v o. The v`fitting, I2 `extends through one leg. ofthe bracket 8 as shown in Fig. 2 to engagean axial 3 recess I4 in the bracket 5. The bore I5 is contiguous with the passageways I6 and II of the bracket 5. Passageway I'I terminates within an enlarged portion I9 of the bracket 5 which is recessed and interiorly threaded to receive a coupling 20. The passageway II terminates at its other end in a threaded recess which receives a threadedV plug '23 which mayibe removed for any purposefsuchfas-cleaning the passageway.

An extension member 26 (Fig. l) is attached to l0 an end portion of the bracket 5 by such means as a cap screw 21. The member 26 vis,provided with a threaded recess to receive a male coupling 29 and an exteriorly threaded-projectionilwhich receives an immersion cupzIiZ. .,Azspinneretr-.34ffis H5 coupled to the member 26 by the cup 32. fAtipassageway extends through the member26 between the recess and the end surface of the projection 30. A coiled rounder 24 is attached to the bracket by couplings 20 and ZQto connect the passage- 2o fways ILandBE.

- .Ar-'recess .4 I); is .provided inthesidecfl the bracket and`- extends downwardly within. the .bracket vto .form a pocket-.4 I. A passagewayfextends from -fawall Vof thepocket 4 I .tothe side. of the` bracket ,25 to terminate inan orifice 43 facingthe Vcup 32 to .,-apositionjust abovebutslightly offset with respect .tothe A.outer periphery of thecup.

Liquid forstreating the filament-forming.. ma- Lterial dischargedby .the spinneretis supplied to .theabove described spinning equipment .through an orifice member 45 whichmaybe attached. on the. edgepf the container I5 vby such means as the clamparrangement shown wherein legs of .,a-.bifurcate portion .of Ythe...member extend ,over L 35 thee-edged? ofthe. containerA I0 ;-,a.cap screw 48 extending through one oi the legs may be tightiened to secure .the .member to the container. "Liquid`` passing. from -asupplysouree not. vshown -fenters thek member fromv a tube 58 secured vto a :.40 {fitting` 5I extending Vin .threaded vrelationship through., a Wall of the. member into a chamber 53. A,1in orifice tube 55is securedwithin the en- "largedrportion ofthechamber by such means as `a resilient stopper 56. So'that a safetvhazard pis not created by' liquid spurtingffrom the member'when the orifice tube isremoved for any purposesuch as for cleaning the member, the member'45 is preferably designed so that liquid enters :the member in a direction which is not in align- `ment with the 4direction along which the liquid passes from. the member.

, "In operation, liquidpasses from the member 45 through the orifcetube 55 in a trajectory which lterminates withinpthe recess 40 ofthe bracket 55 5. :The liquidgthencollects Within thepocket 4I "and flows through the Vpassageway '42 intothe cup;32;to submerge thespinneret 34. The liquid 'continuously overflows the'rim 5T of'the;cup and drops into the container or Vessel I 0.

'The'liquidmay bepermitte'dito leave the con- 1vtainer IU'at'any desired level lower than the rim 51of'the cup. Generally, the liquid may be uti- Av'flizedas aJ medium` for `heating the coils 59 of the rounder 24 andthe filament-forming liquid pass- 65 "ing'therethrough Preferablyythe liquid level in` "c :oritainer l-I) is such'as to'submerge the coils5il, and the member 26.

In order to maintain a desirable temperature in z'the-*container I0 for heating the rounder coils, it 70 Kmayibenecessaryto provide aflow of liquid from "orifice 55 at a-rate much' greater than the amount required in the cup 32,in which case the passageway 42 is limited in size to permit onlyaportion 'fof the'liquid tof'flow: intothe cup y32,the--rest of 75 4 the liquid from orice 55 overflows pocket 4I. In actual operation, it was found that 500 cubic centimeters per minute of liquid flowing into cup 32 was suiiicient to avoid turbulence about the face of the jet and provide a desired temperature. An orifice 43 of proper size was selected to obtain the desired rate of liquid delivery into the cup. Liquidwaslpassed through theforifceii at the rate of 1060 cubic centimeters per minute. The excess liquid was permitted to overflow the pocket :4I and i'ill the vessel I0 to a level established by anoverflow tube 65.

Although many arrangements are possible for introducing the liquid into the cup, a preferable .system.has'beenhereinabove described. An imiportantadvantage of the arrangement shown is that the bracket 5 and the parts supported thereon may be swung out of the container I E) without disconnecting any of the apparatus for conducting the liquid coagulant. Moreover, the ilow of liquid into the .cup 32 is automatically terminated when the bracket. and. spinneret. .are-,movedout ,of .the .spinningv position, .and .the liquidlissiiing from` the orifice .tube 55 drops. downwardlylinto lthe container I0 and.ilo.ws .therefrom 'through the normal channels. Also, by this methodlthe temperature of the liquid. inthe container I IIl'is maintained forV heating the. rounder coils.'

`As :an .important advantage .of the invention, the .depth of theliquid in the cup 32voverfthe .-spinneretl facesmaybe controlled within. an. ac-

curacy within y100th .of affinch. The. cup. 3 2A has an annular shoulder whichseatsontheupper surface of Vthe spinneret .flange ,6 I. A washer E2 is normally provided `betweenti-ieespinnerei, vflange-and. threaded projection 3U onto which the .cup..32 is screwed. .Since the spinneretsarevery vaccurately built tostandard. dimensions and .the .cup-32 may be readily lconstructed Ywithuequal accuracy, the -distance between .the .respective planes. of .the spinneret.-.face,-and .tliezrimfi'l-` may be readily varied by constructing,cups-suchfas the cup 32 Ahaving .diiferent flange heights to give any desired immersion of the-spinneret `The cups may be constructed` from anyrmaterialsuchfias that normally used to make the couplingszwhioh are used to ,secure spinnerets to conventional equipment, e.-g. hard rubber,..or1leadalloyed-'With a small amountof'eantimony.

-Whi1e preferredembodiments of the invention ihave. been shown 'and described,- itisl-to be understood that. changes4 and lvariations* mayfbe; made without departing from the spiritand :scope :of the invention as' defined inthe appended claims.

...I-claim: -v1. -Spinning apparatus for artificial filaments i comprising a small container having an opentop and an overilow surfacefan upward-ly: facing spinneret. Supported 'within the containerfat ,af level vbelowthe voverflow surf aoe,: a receptacle, common means forsupporting the container andthe spin- `neret Within the. receptacle,` andwansoverowl surfaceffor Athe .receptacle disposed at-lower'level kthan that .of ...the ,overflow surface of the.. containexgand orifice means .supported .adjacent the container. for discharging a liquid Ythe'reinto.

T2. Spinning Aapparatus v'for articial illaments comprisingk a smallcontainer'having an aperture through the top portion'thereof. and anl ever'ow surface;v an upwardly facing Aspinneret supported .'withinthe; container' ata levelI below the 'overflow surface, varece1:tacle a movable bracketfforrsup- -porting the container 'and' thefspinn'eretewithin lthe receptacle-an overfiow'isurface ofthe 'receptacle disposed at a lower level than-*that 'of'the the container for discharging a liquid thereinto while the bracket is in the spinning position.

3. Spinning apparatus for artificial filaments comprising a small container having an open top and an overflow surface, an upwardly facing spinneret supported within the container at a level below the overflow surface, a receptacle, a movable bracket for supporting the container and the spinneret within the receptacle, an overflow surface for the receptacle disposed at a lower level than that of the container, orice means supported by the bracket adjacent the container for discharging a liquid thereinto, a reservoir within the bracket for supplying a liquidto the orice, said reservoir having an opening along an upper portion, and a second orifice means supported adjacent the bracket for discharging liquid into the reservoir through said opening.

4. Spinning apparatus for artificial filaments comprising a pivotably supported bracket. a spinneret supported on a portion of the bracket spacedy from its pivot axis so that when the bracket'is in its spinning position the face of the spinneret is substantially horizontal, a passageway extending through the bracket from a surface thereof within a pivot joint intersected by the pivot axis, means for supplying a filament-forming liquid to the passageway through the pivot joint, a second passageway extending through the portion of the bracket supporting the spinneret and connected therewith, a rounder connecting the two passageways, a coupling for securing the spinneret to the bracket having a flange which surrounds thev spinneret and extends to a predetermined level above the spinneret, and means for introducing a liquid into the region enclosed by the flange.

5. Spinning apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the bracket is provided with a catch basin, said basin being positioned above the flange,V and a passageway extending from the interior ofthe basin to a region above and-closely adjacent the flange, and a stationary orifice connected with a liquid reservoir for directing a liquid into the basin when the bracket is in its spinning position.

6. Spinning apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the bracket is provided with a recess in the side opposite the spinneret and the coupling, said recess leading into a catch basin formed within the bracket, a duct leading from the lower portion of the basin to a region above and slightly offset with respect to the flange, and a stationary orifice connected to a liquid supply means spaced laterally from the recess when the bracket is in its spinning position to discharge liquid into the recess.

7. Spinning apparatus as in claim 6 wherein apparatus connecting the liquid supply means and the orioe comprises a fixture having an inner chamber, an inlet duct connected with .the chamber, a supply line connected with the duct, an outlet port, an orifice tube for discharging the liquid from the chamber into the recess, and a quickly removable plug through which the orifice tube extends, said plug extending into the outlet port.

8. Spinning apparatus for artificial filaments comprising a small container having an open top and an overflow means, an upwardly-facing spinneret supported within the container at a level that of the overflow means of the container, and means adjacent the container for discharging a liquid thereinto.

9. Spinning apparatus for artificial filaments comprising a small container having an open top and a peripheral overflow surface, an upwardlyfacing spinneret supported within the container at a level below the overflow surface, common means for supporting the container and the spinneret, duct means for supplying a filament-forming liquid to the spinneret, said duct means extending through at least a portion of the support means and a portion of the container into communication with the spinnereta receptacle disposed exteriorly of the container and having a liquid-receiving region disposed at a lower level than that of the overflow surface of the container to catch liquid passing from the overflow surface, and means adjacent the container for discharging a liquid thereinto. y

10. Spinning Vapparatus for'artificial filaments comprising a movable bracket, stop means for holding the bracket in a position for spinning, a small container having an open top anda peripheral overflow surface, an upwardly-facing spin-A neret supported within the container at a predetermined level belowthe overflow surface, said container and spinneret being mounted on the bracket, duct means for supplying a filamentforming liquid to the spinneret, said duct means extending through at least a portion of the bracket and a lower portion of the container into communication with the spinneret, a receptacle disposed exteriorly of the container and having a liquid-receiving region disposed at a lower level than that of the overflow surface of the container for the purpose of catchingA liquid passing from the overflow surface, and means adjacent the container for discharging liquid thereinto when the bracket is in the position wherein it engages the stop means. k

11. Spinning apparatus for artificial filaments comprising a pivotably supported bracket, stop means for holding the bracket inv a position for spinning, a spinneret, coupling means having an upwardly-extending flange for securing the spinneret to a portion of the bracket remotely spaced from its pivot axis, the face of the spinneret being substantially horizontal and said flange extending above the spinneret face to a predetermined level to form a liquid storage region surrounding the spinneret when the bracket rests against the stop means, a receptacle having a liquid receiving region disposed at a lower level than that of the below the overflow means, a receptacle, common g means for supporting the container and the spinneret within the receptacle, an overflow means for the receptacle disposed at a lower level than upper portion of the flange to receive liquid therefrom, and means positioned for introducing a liquid into the region enclosed by the flange when the bracket rests against the stop means.

HENRY J. NICDERMOTT.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

